The two pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud in separate hearings.

Prosecutors say Paxton and Thompson falsely promised an author they had the ability and contacts to have his book made into a movie. The two allegedly posed as associates and business partners of notable Hollywood personalities.

Thompson allegedly prepared a contract that required the payment of an initial $50,000 fee with an additional $150,000 to be deposited into an escrow account to cover production expenses.

Phoenix TV station KTVK says an investor wrote a $12,000 check in January.